Nexus Issue 2 2025 (The Pride Issue) by Nexus Magazine

NEWS EDITOR | NEWS@NEXUSMAG.CO.NZ

MAIA ELANORA

A THOUSAND WORDS

CAMPUS FASHION CAMPUS FASHION CAMPUS FASHION

“COWBOY

CORE”

“Cowboy” core consists of dressing yourself in silhouettes that, in the pulsing lights of Outback, can be passed off as old-timey. The shapes of huge belts, of frilled shoulders, bootcut jeans, and of course the cowboy hat. The thing with “cowboy” core is that, just like an outlaw vanishing into the Mojave, you can throw off your dollar-store cowboy hat when you remember Outback ain’t all that, and vanish to House instead. Cowboys were versatile, and so is the ability to blend into just about any club crowd on the Lawrenson Strip. (name pending)

CAMPUS FASHION

CAMPUS FASHION CAMPUS FASHION

lo-four 4 questions, 4 students, 20 answers

Lochie: graduated 2021

1. Gay smut every day I suppose yeah.

2. Yes, I think he will.

3. Not necessarily I’ve been kissed by the bro before not in a homosexual way.

4. Um that’s a hard one, I suppose fuck lady gaga, marry Troye Sivan, kill the other dude (Ru Paul)

5. He loves ice coffee, he doesn’t think he’s gay

Zoe: 4th year, bachelor of comms

1. Gay smut

2. No.

3. No, I don’t think that.

4. I’d fuck Lady Gaga, i’d marry Ru Paul but kill Troye.

5. I don’t think its gay no, purr purr slay.

1. Gay smut or never read again?

2. Will frank ocean drop an album ever again?

3. Is it gay to kiss your friends?

4. Fuck marry kill: Lady Gaga, Troye Sivan and Ru Paul.

5. Is ice coffee gay?:

Thisbe: 2nd year, software engineering

1. Never read again.

2. No.

3. No.

4. Fuck lady gaga, marry Troye Sivan, kill Ru Paul.

5. No!

Mellissa: 3rd year, Bachelor of Design in Communcation design, industrial design

1. Probably never be able to read again, I don’t read anyways.

2. I think so yup

3. No

4. Kill Troye Sivan, marry lady gaga, and yeah okay fuck Ru Paul.

5. No, I don’t really like coffee, so I’ll just say no.

Though you may know

Pride Month to be in June, there are proud reasons why Aotearoa’s is in February. If you are looking for a refresher or need a full debrief, here’s a timeline of our country's LGBTQ+ revolution.

Pre-colonisation, tangata whenua were widely accepting of what we now call the LGBTQ+ community. In te reo Māori they had words to describe queerness and different gender identities. Takatāpui is an identity for queer and genderqueer tangata whenua, which is still used to this day.

The arrival of The Crown complicated things greatly, including for takatāpui. In 1840 all British laws were adopted in Aotearoa, for gay men this included “buggery” (man/man anal sex) being a capital offence. By 1893 all kinds of sexual activity between men became criminalised. It’s important to note that sexual acts between women were never criminalised (let's go lesbians).

A beauty was born in 1962: The Dorian Society. This was a more organised safe space where queer men could meet and with time the society became advocates for queerness, though this remained discreet. By 1967 the New Zealand Homosexual Law Reform Society was founded, these guys were louder and prouder about their advocacy for gay rights.

1972 saw Aotearoa’s first organised pride event “Gay Day”. Held in Auckland, this was a public event that began the Gay Liberation Movement.

With the rise of protests and pride events, a petition for homosexual law reform was created in 1985 which was signed by 50,000 people. This bill was passed in July of 1986 with 65 to 55 votes. This bill no longer criminalised men over the age of 16 for participating in same-sex sex. However, discrimination on the grounds of sexuality was still legal.

1985 was also the birth of the New Zealand AIDS Foundation which had its first safe sex campaign in 1986. Another revolutionary moment in LGBTQ history occurred in 1986 with the birth of the first trans rights group, Transgender New Zealand.

Post homosexual law reform bill, pride events rose in popularity. Aotearoa saw Wellington’s Gay and Lesbian Fair, Hero, and Big Gay Out (and more) debuting their pride events. Hero pride parade is the reason we celebrate pride month in February, its presence was pivotal for queer coverage nationally.

The seriousness of AIDS became a pressing issue therefore Aotearoa hosted its first AIDS conference in 1987 leading to open HIV testing in 1988. This snowballed into a law against discrimination based on HIV/ AIDS in 1993, antiretroviral therapy access in 1996, PrEP in 2012 and PrEP becoming publicly funded in 2017.

Chris Carter was a well-known name in 1993, as he became the first out gay Member of Parliament. He faced insane amounts of backlash and homophobia however he paved the way for MPs to come.

1993 was a big year for LGBTQ+ rights as the right to change your gender marker was introduced for transgender people. And in 2009 our third gender option was introduced.

In 2002, hate crime laws protecting sexuality and gender identity were created.

Our government introduced civil union rights in 2004 which allows unmarried couples to apply for a civil union to gain the same rights as a married couple. Queer couples saw this as a cop-out for legalising samesex marriage therefore most didn’t engage.

It wasn’t until 2013 that Aotearoa legalised same-sex marriage with the passage of the Marriage Amendment Act. The same year, however, samesex couples were granted the right to adopt.

Conversion therapy was banned in 2022 for those under 18 or for people who are unable to make informed decisions. With this bill, it protects people from harmful practices based on their sexuality or gender identity.

Before 2023, the process to apply to change your gender marker was lengthy and not only needed surgical transition but also required family court. Now, gender self-identification is grounds to get your gender marker changed. All that is needed is a selfapplication for consideration.

And there you have it! A whirlwind tour through Aotearoa's LGBTQ+ revolution, from pre-colonial acceptance to a shit load of hardships to today. Just remember, whether you're waving a pride flag in February or June, the important thing is to wave it with pride. After all, in the grand parade of progress, New Zealand has marched to the beat of its own fabulous drum, proving that love truly knows no season.

ENTERTAINMENT & CAMPUS EDITOR

NINA PACHECO

alexa’s atrology

ARIES

March 21 - April 19

This is your sign to cut off the first person to pop up when you click the share button. Like and comment for more relationship advice.

TAURUS

April 20 - May 20

Red is definitely your colour! But I’m sensing it’s taking over your whole life and personality. Liking what’s trendy is cool but you take it a bit too far.

GEMINI

May 21 - June 20

Getting impulsive tattoos and piercings isn’t a cop out of therapy. Like you have some serious issues.

CANCER

June 21 - July 22

Your Jared Leto. Like I’m mindlessly watching a movie then BAM up pops Jared fucking Leto in some crazy character design. Or Freddy Krueger. haunting my dreams when I least expect it.

LEO

July 23 - August 22

Your body’s been under a lot of stress lately. A good detox will do the trick. Or 2 shots of vodka into your morning drink for a lil Pick Me Up.

VIRGO

August 23 to September 22

Vintage stores/markets are calling, cute and quirky trinkets are waiting to be found. Hurry before someone with a cooler niche-interest than you overpowers your aura.

LIBRA

September 23 - October 22

Your intuition’s divine and can serve you more than you realise. Yes, they’re shit-talking you behind your back. Why are you standing there? Get them back!!

SCORPIO

October 23 - November 21

You’re giving the drawing of the fancy black cat with a fur shawl and martini rn. It has been too long since you’ve seduced someone at a bar for a free drink.

SAGGITARIUS

November 22 - December 21

Have you seen Fight Club? Idk you seem like the type to have watched fight club.

CAPRICORN

December 22 - January 19

Pro tip #32. Being hygienic is not hard. Trimming your nails once a month isn’t hard. Your partner will thank you for it.

AQUARIUS

January 20 - February 18

“I’m just, like, ‘Dude, like, oh my God. Can we talk about the political and economic state of the world, right now?’” - Jaden Smith

PISCES

Feburary 19 - March 20

Males… I have nothing more to say then stfu and gtfo. Females. you’re gorgeous and I love you keep doing your thang ;)